So I just witnessed a thing today..

"SaabLife, because Gripen" (runningtosweden) 04/24/2014 at 19:33 • Filed to: Dumbasses

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I was parked next to my lovely lady's office this afternoon when I saw three bicycle riders coming up behind me and passing on my left.

Well one of the riders was one of those hard-core riders, who had all his gear on and was riding a pretty high-end road bicycles with all the bells and whistles. The other two riders were college kids on regular bikes just riding along, not giving a fuck.

Well as soon as they pass me, the next events happened in about 15 to 20 seconds. The professional biker gets to the intersection a few seconds before the college kids (about 20 feet from me) and comes to a full stop. The other two come up behind him and then around him a few seconds later. They sail through the intersection and make it about half way through as the Audi A4 punts them like a pair of nerf footballs.

The Audi had blown through the intersection without even glancing at the stop sign exactly like they had. Myself and two other people jumped out of our cars to check on the couple who had gotten flung a few feet. Their bicycles were pretty jacked up, but they only had a few gashes and cuts on their arms and legs. The girl driving the Audi was balling, she had her phone in one hand and had her car sitting up on a curb and sticking out into the intersection.

Cops showed up, end of story.

I've seen similar accidents like this before in my area with bicycle riders just sailing through intersections, but I still just don't get it. If your on a bicycle and surrounded by other college kids driving those big-metal car things, it seems like it would be a dandy idea to stop at the stop signs. Since those car things occasionally sail right through them too.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > SaabLife, because Gripen 04/24/2014 at 19:38

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Nerf foot balls not nerd. Today I saw a lady scrape the paint off a Mazda 3 hatchback fender and not give two craps. Then she went in to a bar.

CAR_IS_MI > SaabLife, because Gripen 04/24/2014 at 19:38

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Clarification requested: Bike as in Bike-cycle or Bike as in motor-Bike?

GeorgeyBoy > SaabLife, because Gripen 04/24/2014 at 19:40

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Look twice save a life.

One of my fears is hitting a biker, I'm always extra cautious. It's funny how the world is, billions spent on regulating safety on cars yet we let anyone drive around on 2 wheel pieces of metal capable of 100+mph.

I always wanted a bike, but the older I get the more I don't need that extra risk.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > SaabLife, because Gripen 04/24/2014 at 19:41

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The people on the Motorcycles are just as guilty as the girl in the car, yet the biker community will go nuts with their whole "Watch out for bikers, it's our road too" thing. Sometimes bikers need to watch out for cars, because it's their road too. I'm not hating on bikers, but there's those few that do that.

CAR_IS_MI > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 04/24/2014 at 19:42

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Usually that happens the other way around... She went into the bar then scrapped the paint off a bumper and didn't give a crap.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > CAR_IS_MI 04/24/2014 at 19:44

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I know she wrecked a 2013 mazda and didn't care she drove a crappy buick.

SaabLife, because Gripen > Vince-The Roadside Mechanic 04/24/2014 at 19:47

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Can't it be both? (iPad autocorrected). Yeah, sounds like what most of these kids would do.

jkm7680 > SaabLife, because Gripen 04/24/2014 at 19:48

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Some people just need to learn how to drive. She's also setting a bad name for A4 drivers. Dammit.

Glad the riders were Ok, She was Prolly texting I'm guessing.

Vince-The Roadside Mechanic > SaabLife, because Gripen 04/24/2014 at 19:48

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SaabLife, because Gripen > CAR_IS_MI 04/24/2014 at 19:49

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Rereading that, I probably should have said bicycles. Think I'll go back and edit that in.

Racescort666 > GeorgeyBoy 04/24/2014 at 20:15

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Are you talking about bicycles or motorcycles? Also, what country are we talking about? I see to remember (although I could be wrong here) that in Europe it's easier to get a motorcycle license than a car license. I can say first hand that it is way harder to get a motorcycle license than a car license in the US. Also, you have to have a car license first so MC is really just an endorsement.

Hermann > SaabLife, because Gripen 04/24/2014 at 20:28

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About 10 years ago, my mom was coming to a crossing, the light was green so she didn't even brake. A bus was stopped on the right lane, right on the corner.

When she passed by the bus a 13 year old girl crossed with a bike in front of her, not only crossing the red light without flinching, but also going the opposite direction of the street. They didn't see each other because the bus blinded the corner.

My mom's car had the hood, windshield and roof damaged.

The girl died in the hospital 3 days later.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > SaabLife, because Gripen 04/24/2014 at 21:01

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How's this for interesting. I've watched similar situations when I was at university.

After a few bumps from cars hitting bicycles running the light at a particular intersection, the local cops started ticketing the cyclists for failure to follow a traffic control device. I would have loved to be in the traffic court gallery for that one.

GeorgeyBoy > Racescort666 04/24/2014 at 21:05

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I was talking motorcycles (OP never specified when he posted until later). It depends what type of motor bike. You could count scooters and mopeds which are very easy to get a licence for (I think you only have to be 15 where I live). I wasn't really trying to talk about the ease or difficulty of getting a license. By saying "we let anyone drive around on motorcycles" I was implying anyone that really wants it regardless of their intended uses (speeding, tricks, high-risk riders). You don't even need to wear a helmet where I live.

A few 17-19 year olds just died last week on motorcycles near where I live. Just too young.

Racescort666 > GeorgeyBoy 04/25/2014 at 01:18

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Same goes for drivers licenses. Honestly, I have a problem with that too.